Jay Ritter

What the Surge in IPOs Means for Investors

Jay Ritter, Owen Lamont, Allison Nathan

Goldman Sachs Research reports that the U.S. IPO market reached record issuance levels in 2026 while maintaining average valuations that distinguish current activity from historical speculative bubbles. Analyst Jay Ritter and Owen Lamont offer diverging perspectives on this surge, with Ritter arguing deep capital markets can absorb new supply without overvaluation, whereas Lamont warns that a massive wave of issuance signals the early stages of a potential bubble. Both experts agree that structural shifts, including expanded private markets and industry consolidation, have permanently reduced the average annual IPO count to roughly 100, fundamentally altering the relationship between new listings and future market returns.